Yildirim: We cannot combat terrorists with the help of terrorists

By Manolis Kostidis /
20/02/2017 /
Comments Off on Yildirim: We cannot combat terrorists with the help of terrorists

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim met with US Vice President Mike Pence during the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

The Turkish Prime Minister stated that Ankara made it clear that it will participate in all operations against the Islamic State. “In the way we have supported the Free Syrian Army we will continue to do so for the Raqqa operation. But what we have requested from the US is that they do not support terrorist organisations. We cannot combat terrorist organisations with the help of other terrorist organisations“, said Yildirim to Turkish journalists.

The Prime Minister of Turkey essentially stresses that Turkey does not want to support the forces of Syrian Kurds (PYD), which Ankara considers a terrorist organisation.

In operations against ISIS in the city of Al Bab, Turkey has sent about 150 men of the turkish special forces and another 2000 soldiers to support the Free Syrian Army. However in the Turkish capital they are aware that in the case of the Raqqa operation they will need a lot more Turkish forces if Washington does not get the support of the Syrian Kurds.

However the US recognises that the PYD has fought many battles against the jihadists and it is exactly for this very reason that it has not provided the Turkish prime minister with an answer./IBNA